When you are preparing to move, you might discover that off all the rooms in your house; the kitchen is often the most frustrating. Every kitchen cabinet and drawer, jam-packed with hundreds of perfectly organized essentials, must be sorted into boxes one item at a time. Plus, many of these items are fragile and quite heavy once packed.
In this guide, we’ll teach you how to pack dishes correctly so you can avoid breaking your dishes and glassware. Follow these steps to pack your dishes safely and securely for the big move.
Preparing the Box
First, you need to prepare your moving box for the safe transport of your breakable kitchenware. Start by securely taping the bottom shut with heavy-duty tape. This will prevent a heavy load from bursting through the bottom of the box.
Next, cushion the bottom of the box with a layer of bubble-wrap, wadded-up packing paper, a styrofoam plate, or other cushy packing material.
Alternatively, you can purchase dish packs, moving boxes designed specifically for transporting fragile dishes.
Wrapping Plates and Bowls
Place the plate or bowl in the center of a piece of large packing paper. Wrap it by folding all four corners into the center of the dish. Repeat this for three more dishes of the same size.
Stack four of these individually-wrapped dishes together and place the stack on another sheet of packing paper. Wrap the entire stack the same way you wrapped each dish and tape the bundle closed.
Packing the Plates and Bowls
When packing these bundles into a box, place each one vertically (on its side). They’re less likely to break this way.
Pack enough of these bundles into each box that they form a snug fit, without making the box too heavy. Cushion the four sides and the top of the box the same as you did the bottom.
Seal the box tightly and label the top as “Fragile—This End Up.” Label the sides the same, with an arrow indicating the top.
Packing Drinkware
Fill each glass, mug, and stemware snugly with crumpled packing paper. Surround the stems of wine/martini glasses with folded packing paper as well. Tape the paper that’s protecting the stem.
Place one of these filled glasses or mugs on its side on the corner of a sheet of packing paper. Roll the glass diagonally toward the other corner, folding in the other two corners as you go. Do the same with stemmed glasses (with the packing paper cushion around the stem).
Cushion the bottom and sides of a box as you did with the plates and bowls. Place the wrapped drinkware bundles upright in the box with packing cushion between them. Label the box as you did with the plates and bowls.
How to Pack Dishes Safely and Securely
Remember, it may seem like extra work to pack dishes the right way, but it’s worth it. So, don’t cut corners when packing up your kitchen. Follow this advice on how to pack dishes properly.Now check out these 5 Apps for Moving That’ll Help You Stay Organized.